Whittier, The Alaskan City Under One Roof
Imagine living in a city where all the citizens live in one building. Well that is the case for those that find themselves living in the small city of Whittier, Alaska.
The place has only two large buildings. One is abandoned and is the home of bears, the other is a high-rise housing the city’s population.
Not only does this fact put the place firmly on the map as one of the strangest places in America, the city also has the longest tunnel in the States.
No one can reach the city (by land) without first passing through it. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, stretches for 13,000-feet, right under an entire mountain. It is inhospitable terrain to say the least.
The city itself is named after a nearby glacier and was first established in World War II as a military supply post named Camp Sullivan.
The military maintained a presence there right up to 1960. For the following half century, the city has continued on as a fishing port.
The aforementioned buildings that dominate the skyline were left behind by the military.
The Buckner Building was abandoned in the 1960s due to structural damage caused by an earthquake. There is also a deadly asbestos problem.
The only habitable building is Begich Towers which forms the city’s central accommodation.
The building really is the hub of all life in the city. Privately owned condominiums dominate the lower floors, while the top and ground floors are used for commercial space.
So, if you are in search of an alternative living arrangement – you now know where to come.
Inside The Buckner Building
